Life after birth : Baby blues

For the first few days after birth, the breasts produce
colostrum (also known as the first milk) , which is creamy yellow in colour, rich in
proteins and provides your baby with antibodies to protect
against infections. Even if you are not planning to
breastfeed, try to feed your baby for the first few days at
least as these antibodies cannot be found in formula
milk.

Around the fourth day after birth, your breasts start
producing the normal breast milk. This may make your
breasts feel very uncomfortable when the milk first comes
in. Your breasts may be engorged and feel hard and swollen.
From this time on, your breasts will start producing the
more mature milk for your baby. When your baby starts a
feed, the breasts produce foremilk which is watery
and thirst-quenching. This is followed by the
hindmilk which is rich in calories and more
satisfying.

Your breasts produce milk on the supply and demand
principle which really means that your breasts will produce
milk when your baby needs it. This delicate balance can be
upset easily if you use formula along with your milk. For
your breasts to produce enough milk for your baby, you must
follow a purely breastmilk routine.